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TIIOMASW..DRESSER, OF SAN JOS, CALIFORNIA.

Letters Patent -No. 79,453, dated June 30, 1868.

. IMPROVED FURNAGE AND GONDENSIER FOR REDUCING QUICKSILVER AND OTHER GRES.

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`TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. DRESSER, of San Jos, county of Santa Clara', State of California, have invented an Improved Furnace and Condenser for Reducing Quicksilver and other Orcs; and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings are snilicient to enable any'person skilled in thel art or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use my said invention or improvements without further invention or experiment.

The nature of my invention is t`o provide an improved furnace and condenser for treating ores containing volatile substances principally contained in quicksilver ores. l

My invention consists of an upright furnace, with a vapor-tight hopper, and a continuous-discharging opening, with a suction-pump or pumps leadingfrom it, for drawing the vapor from' the heated ore and forcing or drawing it under water, where it may he condensed and saved. v l.

To more fully illustrate and describe my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings and letters marked thereon, of which v AFigure 1 represents an elevation of my furnace.

Figure Qis a vertical section, showing the dcvice for removing the debris or slag after the lire has passed through it and the valuable portion saved.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the tank and box-flue.

Figures 4, 5, and 6 are vertical sections through different kinds f pumps, either of which may be employed for the purpose designed.

The furnace is constructed of two shells of boiler-iron, having an annular water and steam-space between.

Above the fire-gratos B B are two tube-sheets, C C', on which the ore rests, and through which are conical tubes, D D, with the small end u-p, to prevent clogging; The space between the two tube-sheets is filled with water, to prevent the action of the fire.

p A central tube, E, projects downward from the top tube-sheets C to the bottom of the gra-tes, where a slide, G, is placed, to allow the burned ore to fall through upon the endless-chain car F, by the turning of which it is discharged at one end. A

A circular divisionplate, H, is placed on the gratas, reaching to the lower tube-sheet, so that a fire may be kept near the circumference or ceutre'of thefurnace, as may be desired.

At the top of the furnace is a tube, I, projecting a short distance through thc oute'r top shell, and is covered by the vapor-tight hopper J, I( K being the Ytwo valves or covers for the same. L isvthe point on which it rotates, by the handle M.

N is ilueleading to the tank O, throughwhich pass thevapors into thc uac orbox I), from whence they are taken or drawn through a pipe-connection 'to either ofthe suction-pumps and forced under water, where the quicksilver is condensed and saved, the air and other gases escaping through the sieve-plates T T T, shown at iig. 6. p

U U are s iphons, for admitting water-to the flue N, through which it passes with the vapor to the pumps, and assists in making a packing or seat vapor-tight for the valves.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: The dooror slide G being closed, the proper quantity of ore `is put into the furnace through the hopper J, which is `then closed, and .the fire lighted on the grate B. The

suction-pumpbeing started, the generated vapors are carried through the flue N, water-tank O, and box-liuc P to the pump, then forced under water, and immediately condensed, falling tothe bottom of the water-tank, from whence the quicksilver may be withdrawn.

When the lower part of the ore in the furnace has been subjected long enough to the action of the re, the vdoor or slide G is opened, and the ore drops in a column on the endless carriage or car F; this column will remain, closing the tube E, until the carriage is moved slightly forward, when a quantityrof orc falls, governed by the movement of the car, which is controlled by the time required for properly burning the ore.

When it becomes necessary to put more ore in the furnace, the handle M of the hopper is depressed, and the lower valve, K', is raised-from off the projecting tube I, and partly turns on the pivot formed by the pipe L.

The upper valve, K, is then opened, and the necessary quantity of ore isplaced in the hopper, when the valve is closed, and the hopper is again turned to its former position overthe tube I, and the lower valve is drawn, when the ore drops into the furnace. l p

A sufficient quantity of Water should be kept on the top of the furnace in the cavity in which the hopper rotates, and the lower projecting rim of the hopper, resting in the water, makes an air-tight joint around the said hopper, and thus prevents the escape of any vapor during the operation of feeding or charging the furnace, as well as the danger of salivation and injury to theworlimen employed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

L The vapor-tight hopper J and siphons U U,'in combination with this or other smelting-furnaces, substantially as described.

2. The division-plate H H, and the endless carriageF, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for1- the purposedescribed.

3. In combination with a vapor-tight furnaceyA, provided with a hopper, J, either of the pumps Q R S, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal..1

THOMAS W. DRESSER. [L S.]

Witnesses:

C. W. M. SMITH, J. L. BOONE. 

